Newscast: Top of the Hour 180427

Two more Republican members of the New York state senate are dropping out of the race for reelection. Senate Deputy Majority Leader John DeFrancisco of Syracuse and Mount Hope’s Senator John Bonacic, announced today that they would not run in November. Yesterday, Senator Kathy Marchione of Halfmoon also said that she would not seek for another term. The republicans lost two seats earlier this week in Special elections, but still control the senate by one seat.

The killer of two New York City police officers over 45 years ago is set to be released from prison on parole this afternoon. In 1971, Herman Bell, along with two others, shot the officers after bringing them to Harlem with a false 911 call. The move to release Bell on parole comes after an appeals court denied the police union’s request for a temporary restraining order to keep him behind bars.

There will be no fare rises for NJ Transit riders until at least July 2019, Governor Phil Murphy said today. He also announced that he would triple the service’s funding. Previously Governor Murphy has called in NJ Transit a national disgrace.

Governor Murphy is also set to issue a statewide proclamation, tomorrow, announcing Danny DeVito day. From this year onwards, November 17, the actor’s birthday, will be named after the star of Taxi, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Matilda.

In central park, it’s currently 53 degrees and cloudy. That’s set to continue through the weekend as temperatures rise to the mid 60s. As we’ll hear later in Uptown Radio, tomorrow is the Sikh Culture Society Parade, with road closures across Midtown.